Editor's note: This article is based on remarks to the Canadian Exploration Geophysical Society (KEGS) as part of a celebration of the author's 80th birthday. Seigel received the Maurice Ewing Medal, SEG's highest honor, in 1995 and the award citation summarizing his career was published in TLE in February 1996.

First let me extend warm greetings and thanks to all fellow KEGS members who have seen fit to listen to the ramblings of an ancient geophysicist. I am deeply touched by your presence here and by the individual e-mail tributes that I have received from colleagues who could not attend...